With just over four weeks to go until the planned date of EU exit, NFU Scotland has returned to London to meet with Defra officials, HM Treasury officials, and MPs from the major political parties, including the Minister of State for Agriculture. Their main objective is to press the urgency of finding a deal with the EU that ensures continued free and frictionless trade and an improved policy landscape.
The two-day trip for NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick, Director of Policy Jonnie Hall and Political Affairs Manager Clare Slipper follows urgent correspondence from NFU Scotland to the UK Government earlier in the week which highlighted the importance of ensuring any tariff schedule established in the event of a ‘no deal’ would fairly protect all agricultural sectors from market failure.
Market round-up
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 9 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1392per head and 238p per kg to average £1217 or 225p, while 2 young bulls averaged 168.5p/kg or £850 per head.
In the rough ring all classes sold similar to last week with 32 beef cows selling to £1290 and 163p to average 115.8p, while 116 dairy cows peaked at £1000 and 108p to level at 88.3p. Six bulls sold to £1170 and 159.2p to average 103.4p, while clean OTM cattle peaked at £1100 and 157.5p to level at 134.4p. Eight dairy cattle sold to £1600 for a Holstein Friesian heifer.
Wallets Marts Ltd sold 1429 prime hoggs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £104 and 236.6p for Beltex, to average 184p (n/c)
A large show of cast sheep this week saw heavy ewes sell to £111.50 for a pair of Texels and light/export-type ewes peaked at £55.50 for Blackfaces. Cast rams sold to £124.50 for a Texel.
C&D Auction Marts Ltd had an entry of 2,395 store hoggs and feeding ewes forward at Longtown on Tuesday. The sale was topped at £83 for Beltex hoggs, Texels to £82, Suffolks to £73, Hill Cheviots to £75.50, Greyfaces to £77, Cheviot Mules to £64.50, North Cheviots to £79, Blackfaces to £67. Feeding ewes (184) were topped at £72 for Texels.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd had 1296 prime hoggs forward at their weekly sale in Newton Stewart yesterday. Top prices on the day were £93 for a pen of 14 Texel crosses and 204.6p/kg for Beltex with the overall average levelling at 184p/kg (+4p on the week). The 465 Blackface hoggets forward averaged 181.1 p/kg and peaked at £90 and 190p/kg.
Cast sheep were similar to last week with 170 heavy ewes selling to £80 for Lleyns and averaging £68.38, while 127 light/export-type ewes peaked at £47.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £35.98.
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